Black capped a stellar career with the Mustangs with an outstanding senior season, helping lead the team to a second straight District 2-3A championship and a berth in the regional finals. He finished 2013 with 3,034 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on the season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jonathan Beck, Frenship

5-11, 195, Sr.

If there was a pile up of players anywhere near the line of scrimmage – or anywhere on the field for that matter – chances are Beck was either in the middle of it or on the bottom. He capped a stellar senior year with 153 tackles, three sacks and five tackles for losses in the middle.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Max Kattwinkel, Cooper

The Pirates weren’t exactly in the doldrums, but Kattwinkel lifted them higher in his first season as head coach than most predicted. Cooper won seven of its first eight games, but then made school history with its first regional finals berth.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Stanton Keane, Cooper

6-1, 196, Sr.

Keane made the transition to quarterback look seamless in leading the Pirates to a regional final berth, rushing for 1,514 yards and 16 TDs and throwing for 1,890 yards and 14 TDs.

Running back

Vincent Johnson, Monterey

5-11, 180, Jr.

Johnson showed signs of his ability as a sophomore and was the go-to weapon for the Plainsmen in 2013, carrying 189 times for 1,834 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Robert Johnson, Estacado

5-9, 188, Sr.

Johnson showed tremendous heart and courage by coming back from a torn ACL his junior season to rush for 2,331 yards and 29 touchdowns on 291 carries.

Grant Sandercox, Frenship

6-2, 190, Jr.

The big question going into the season was who would take over the running game for the Tigers, and Sandercox answered the call, rushing for 1m575 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Receiver

Brandon Sherlin, Coronado

6-1, 175, Jr.

Sherlin started the season slow but really benefitted when freshman Christian Hayes took over at quarterback, finishing the season with 45 catches for 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns.

Cameron Knight, Shallowater

6-3, 250, Sr.

Though not as flashy in catching passes, which he did 26 times for 387 yards and 5 touchdowns, he was also important in the run game as the Mustangs averaged 368 yards per game.

Offensive line

Stetson Smitherman, Cooper

6-1, 225, Sr.

The Pirates racked up huge chunks of yards in its first season under Kattwinkel, averaging 398 yards per game. Smitherman led the way up front, grading a 92 percent with 38 pancake blocks.

Travis Rasberry, Frenship

6-4, 285, Sr.

One of two returning starters for the Tigers to begin the year, Rasberry helped clear the way for two 1,000-yard running backs while helping Frenship average 427 yards per game

James Christophe, Estacado

6-0, 240, Jr.

Someone had to open the holes for the Matadors running game that averaged 359 yards per game, and Christophe helped lead the way as the Mats went three rounds deep in the playoffs.

Matthew Robinson, Frenship

6-4, 260, Sr.

Robinson anchored the Tigers offensive line and helped protect quarterback Trevor Eulenbach, who threw for almost 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Lupe Islas, Shallowater

5-8, 180, Sr.

While Black received most of the attention for the numbers he put up throughout the year, he had a solid line in front of him that helped the Mustangs averaged 361 rushing yards per game.

Kicker

Davis Williamson, Monterey

6-0, 160, Sr.

Williamson has been the model of consistency for the Plainsmen for two years and capped a stellar senior season by hitting on both of his field goal tries while going 42 of 43 on PAT kicks.

DEFENSE

Defensive end

Tanner Truitt, Frenship

6-1, 230, Sr.

One of several members of the Tigers defense to step up and form an extremely tough unit that allowed just 222 yards per game. Truitt had 112 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Montana Vega, Cooper

5-10, 237, Sr.

While the Cooper offense hit another gear, so did the defense, in terms of shutting opposing teams down. Vega wrecked shop with 82 total tackles, five sacks and 12 tackles for losses.

Defensive line

Zach Finley, Frenship

6-1, 215, Jr.

Finley was a monster in the middle of the Frenship defensive line as the Tigers allowed just 223 yards per game. He finished with 66 tackles, eight sacks and nine tackles for losses.

Aaron Young, Estacado

5-10, 200, Sr.

Even tough the statistics might not have shown it, the Matadors also had a solid defense that jelled at the right time in the playoffs. Young finished with 70 tackles, and a pair of sacks.

Linebacker

Jared Moore, Shallowater

5-11, 170, Sr.

Moore was a standout for the Shallowater defense that allowed just 258 yards per game this season. He also was solid in pass coverage with a pair of interceptions.

LaDareon Hunter, New Deal

5-11, 205, Sr.

Also an accomplished running back, Hunter was just as outstanding in leading the Lions defense to the regional finals. He recorded 156 tackles, six sacks, two INTs and three fumble recoveries.

Ricky Mendez, Cooper

5-9, 165, Jr.

If, somehow, teams managed to get past the front line of the Cooper defense, Mendez was there to clean it up, recording 113 tackles, three INTs, three sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Secondary

Will Wyatt, Frenship

5-11, 170, Sr.

No secondary was better at picking off passes than the Tigers, who intercepted 23 passes. Wyatt led the team with nine of those picks to go with 61 tackles and 18 pass breakups

Peyton Elliott, Frenship

5-9, 165, Jr.

When teams threw away from Wyatt’s side, they found no better luck in Elliott, who was just as adept at reading the ball with seven interceptions to go with 135 tackles and 23 pass breakups.

Jace Robertson, Shallowater

5-7, 150, Sr.

In addition to be a deft receiver on offense, Robertson was also a stellar defensive back for a unit that allowed just 258 yards per game. He led the Mustangs with three interceptions.

Erin Lopez, Lubbock High

5-10, 169, Sr.

Injuries played a major role in the Westerners’ struggles this season, preventing them from improving on last year. But Lopez was a consistent force for the LHS defense all year.

Punter

Alex Rodriguez, New Deal

5-11, 140, Sr.

It wasn’t often when the Lions weren’t punching it into the end zone, but when drives stalled Rodriguez was there as a defensive weapon to help the Lions flip the field.

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